Manicure Implements

There are many tools needed to give a manicure. Whether doing an at home manicure or actually being a manicurist, the supplies can be as endless as you want them to be. If you are to be an actual manicurist, the first thing you need is some training and a license. Thankfully, this type of skill does require licensing. It is a huge relief to know that the girl scraping that razor blade over my foot is actually certified and licensed for doing so.

I am amazed at how many people actually get regular manicures and pedicures. It can be a treat, I must admit. However, unfortunately it is one of those things that rarely make it onto my calendar.

When going to the nail salon, I noticed, how many supplies were actually necessary. They had several pedicure stations. These were nice leather massage chairs. They had tiny little Jacuzzi tubs in the bottom of each chair. These were for feet soaking, and felt great. The manicurist had a little stool at the end of the pedicure station. In between each of the pedicure chairs was a little storage bin. These bins held everything from polish to razor blades. The manicurist needed cotton and some sort of acetone to take off my old polish. She needed scissors and clippers for trimming my fingernails and toenails. She also had a huge variety of buffers and shapers, scrubbers and boards. All of these tools seemed confusing to me, but I think that she used every tool in that bin on my feet. After a thorough cleaning and shaping, she applied lotion to my legs and massaged my feet. It felt great and was much needed.

Now it was time for the polish. The salon had those little foam things that they stick in between your toes to keep them separated while painting. They also had these cute little disposable flip flops for me to wear home. This way my toes could dry and I wouldn't have to worry about smudging the polish when I put my shoes on. After my toes were polished, I was taken to another station entirely for the manicure.

At this station there was this funny little dryer thing for me to rest my feet on. This was also supposed to help in the drying process and prevent smudging. At the nail station there were even more tools than at the pedicures station. The process was basically the same. First I had to soak my hands. The purpose of this is to soften the cuticles to make it easier to trim them. If was kind of awkward though. Every time I put one hand in, she would take the other hand and either trim or shape my nail. Then she would put that hand back in the water and take my other hand. Half the time, I had no idea what to do with what hand and my arms were overlapping each other all over the place. Anyway, I was surprised at just exactly how many supplies and tools were used during the manicure process.